Instagram Hair Tips

How to Get Instagram-Worthy Hair

Anh Co Tran is, in a word, cool. He works with women who most of us fawn over in the media — he gave Coco Rocha, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Faith Hill pixie cuts. But he's not just a short-crop aficionado. He's styled Gone Girl's Emily Ratajkowski and even social media superstars like Arielle Vandenberg, who has over one million Vine followers. "Lately, all the women who come in for a cut show me Arielle's photo," he said. And, of course, Jessica Alba recently debuted her sexier, lighter strands, thanks to Anh and his partner Johnny Ramirez. But Anh's following isn't a result of his clients — it's his work.

The thing about Anh, though, is he might be cool, but he's not above being friendly. When you meet him, it's as if you've known him for years, like a close friend. That's probably why so many of his clients feel comfortable going so bold when their hair is in his hands. If you're in need of a major transformation, Ramirez-Tran will make you the 2.0 version of yourself.

Anh is a superstar in his own right. His Instagram has 207,000 fans, a mix of people who want to learn his technique, want their hair cut by him, or simply love gorgeous hair.

We have firsthand experience working with Anh. He predicted the bob would be the haircut of 2014 — he was right — so we filmed a segment at his salon, Ramirez-Tran, to learn the dos and don'ts of the 'do. Want to know more about the man behind the trend? Keep reading! Plus, learn the key products you need to create the look.

What Lived-In Hair Looks Like

POPSUGAR: You trademarked the term "lived-in hair." Define what that means to you.

Anh Co Tran: I always have been a fan of that bedhead, f*cked-up, yet groomed look. Every time I think about it, I think about pictures of Kate Moss, when her hair is done. She has that sultry, f*cked-up look on a daily basis.

Actress Arielle Vandenberg, one of Anh's clients, has over one million fans on Vine.

Shed Some Weight . . . From Your Hair

ACT: The most important part of the haircut is the soft undercut. A lot of people think of undercuts as really short or shaved, with the hair pushed over to the side. You can actually tweak the undercut so it's longer. It's essentially weight removal, without using thinning scissors or razors. It creates movement in the hair, so it isn't so bulky.

I always cut hair dry, so you can see how it lays and falls. You can see the cowlicks and if one side is thicker than the other.

The Road to His Signature Style

PS: Has this always been your technique? When did you see it start to catch fire?

ACT: Over the years, it's one thing I for sure always loved, but I never "got" it. I never got to the point where I could reduplicate it. And that's the thing when you're a young stylist. I would do trial and error, and I'd fine-tune it, and I'd think "let's find a process to formulate, a process to achieve this look." It took me 10-12 years to say, "Sh*t, I can do this on every type of hair!" But it's not specific. It's not like, "You cut one inch here and there."

Styling Is Key

ACT: A curling iron! Either a regular iron or a rod. If you use an iron, leave the ends out. The key is to alternate the wave. And 95 percent of the time, I use a 1.25-inch iron. (Try this wand from T3.)

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